ARCADIA, Calif. - For a relatively unknown son of Smart Strike, Papa Clem has a healthy chunk of California racing history already in his corner. For that he can thank his namesake, Clement Hirsch, co-founder of the Oak Tree Racing Association with Lou Rowan and one of the founding directors of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

ARCADIA, Calif. - There is no truth to the rumor that the IEAH Stable silks will be replaced by a big, black bull's-eye on Saturday at Santa Anita when they are carried for the first time by champion filly Stardom Bound in the Las Virgenes Stakes. But you get the idea.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Without his ever-loving Redskins in the mix, Jim Cassidy will watch Sunday's Super Bowl with little more interest than someone who likes to keep his head in the game. The heart will be parked elsewhere.

The racing debut of Roy and Gretchen Jackson's 3-year-old colt Nicanor on Saturday at Gulfstream Park is easily the most anticipated arrival of a full brother since Zeppo Marx replaced Gummo in the family's vaudeville act 91 years ago.

At least, this is what an unsuspecting sports world is being led to believe, as if the next savior has arrived, and hearts will once again soar. The public relations pressure being put on this innocent colt to make the same kind of headlines as brother Barbaro is both misplaced and mildly amusing. Someone forgot to crack the history books.

The boss gave me a choice. Either I fly to Florida and saddle up the old tuxedo for another Eclipse Awards dinner, or stay put in California, watch it on TVG, and lob long-range Internet observations from the sanctuary of my parents' basement while wearing my pajamas.

TUCSON, Ariz. - "You must be rooting for the Cardinals," an Arizona friend said, referring to Sunday's Super Bowl.

"You must be kidding," I told him. "I'm a Pottsville boy."

He had no idea what that meant, but it is a story worth telling, and you can read it on Google.

I was born in Pottsville, Pa., the year before the then Chicago Cardinals stole the 1925 National Football League championship from an NFL team called the Pottsville Maroons.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - When a 3-year-old delivers a phenomenal early-season performance, racing fans get excited. They hope that the youngster will be a star of the future, maybe a Kentucky Derby winner, maybe even the Triple Crown winner that the sport has awaited for decades.

But after a gelding named This Ones for Phil scored a remarkable victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park, many fans - or at least the cynical ones - had a different reaction. This Ones for Phil epitomized what is wrong with the modern American racing game.

ARCADIA, Calif. - As of last weekend, there were a dozen races left on the national calendar described as "Oaks" before the big one in Kentucky on the first Friday in May, including the Oregon Oaks, the Bourbonette Oaks, and the Sunshine Millions Oaks, run Saturday at Santa Anita for a purse of $250,000.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Just to keep things in perspective, the Eclipse Awards Dinner on Monday night in Miami figured to be only the second most exciting event hosted by veteran broadcaster Kenny Rice over the weekend.

NEW YORK - Let's try to hit the Pick 17 at Miami Beach on Monday night, when one of the three finalists in 17 categories will be announced as racing's champions of 2008 at the Eclipse Awards ceremonies at the Fontainebleau Hotel.

Hitting the "all" button in all 17 legs would require a $258 million investment at a $2 minimum, but I think you can lock it up on a $96 play. If you're on a budget, a $16 ticket stands a very good shot of leaving you alive to both Curlin and Zenyatta in the last leg, the Horse of the Year announcement.